Parachute toy



March 2, 1943. M. K. CULVER ET AL PARACHUTE TOY Filed April 12, 1941 I I I I I I I I! Zhwwvbcw M,KE,NNETFI OULVLR THUIQMAN MJVl- GREGOIQ Patented Mar. 2, 1943 PARACHUTE TOY M Kenneth Culver and Thurman M. McGregor,

Houston, Tex.

Application April 12, 1941, Serial No. 388,234

14 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements-in parachute toys.

Heretofore, there have'been many parachute toys offered to the public, which toys are adapted to be shot, or projected, or blown into the air by suitable means, and which upon reaching the zenith of their flight through the air, unfurl a small parachute by which the toys descend to earth. This is a common type of toy, and'possesses great facination for children and young persons. One fault of these toys has been the fact that the parachute must be manually folded and placedinthe body of the toy. This folding is often improperly carried out, especially by children, so that the parachute fouls and does not unfurl to lower the toy back to earth. Another fault of the toys available heretofore, is that inherent characteristics of structure render them flimsy and fragile, and liable to damage through ordinary use.

One object of this invention is to provide a novel parachute toy in which the parachute is semi-automatically folded into the body of the toy by a Simple operation, which may be carried out by a child.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel parachute toy in which the shroud lines of the parachute are engaged by means which withdraw the lines to pull the parachute into the body of the toy, thus automatically folding the parachute into the toy.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel toy in which means are actuated during the initial flight of the toy to close the body of the toy against air currents, said means being released near the zenith of the toys flight to allow air currents to enter into the body of the toy and unfurl' a parachute therefrom.

Still another object of the invention is to pro vide a novel toy which has an integral body free of hinges or pivoted portions, which body may be reenforced at points of stress to insure an ample strength of structure for the toy, whereby the latter will withstand extraordinary, as well as ordinary, usage and'still remain operative in all details. 7 7

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel toy which is adapted to be projected into the air, and to descend slowly upon a parachute, in which the body of the toy is suspended in a vertical position from the parachute during descent, and is in axial alinement .therewith".

' A construction designed to carry out the invention will be'her'einafter described, together with other'features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical, transverse sectional view of a parachute toy constructed in accordance with this invention, showing the toy' in an as cending position,

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the toy in a position corresponding to a point near the zenith of its flight,

Figure 3 is a reduced view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the toy in adescending position, and

Figure l is a horizontal, cross-sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

In the drawing, the numeral 10 designates an elongate tubular housing or body which forms the major portion of 'the'toy. A collar ll surrounds one end of the body l0 and'is secured thereto, so as to add to the rigidity of the latter. A hook I2 is secured to the collar ll atone side thereof, and has its shank I 3 directed toward the central'portion of the body. A suitable noose or loop (not shown) may be engaged in the hook l2 so as to project the body I!) into the air.

A'butterfly valve [4, or a suitable similar member, is pivoted within the body I0 adjacent the'collar l I. The valve [4 is formed with a pair of laterally-extending pins l5, which are in axial alinement with one another in a line parallel to and laterally displaced from one diameter of the valve. The pins I5 engage within suitable openings [6 formed in'the wall of the body It adjacent the collar H, so that the valve is pivoted eccentrically within the bore of the body. As shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, the valve is free to swing in the axial plane of the body. The axis-of the pins l5, being off-center,

. divides the valve I l into a large area I! and a air will cause the valve to swing against the tension of the spring and seat upon the inner wall of the body Ill. The valve will function in this manner due to its eccentric mounting. Under substantially uniform pressure, the force exerted upon the large area H. is greater than the force exerted upon the small area l8 plus the tensile force of the spring. In this fashion an appreciable air current will cause the valve to close.

It is to be noted that the area of the valve is slightly greater than the cross-sectional area ofthe bore of the body Ill, so that the valve may not swing beyond a certain point, and may not swing 180 to an open position.

A parachute 20, which may be of any suitable type or design, is secured by shroud lines 2| to the lower end of the body as shown by the numeral 26. The parachute is adapted to be carried within the bore of the body, and to be unfurled or released at a suitable time so as to lower the body slowly through the atmosphere. All of the shroud lines 2| pass through a ring 22 to which a cord 23 is attached.

The ring and cord are disposed in the boreof the body l0, and the cord extends upwardly through the bore, and through a suitable opening 24 formed in the wall of the body near the upper end thereof. The outer end of the cord terminates in a loop 25, which may be a ring or button, or any device by which the cord may be seized and pulled through the opening 24. Suitable stops may be provided on the cord to limit its travel through the opening. In the drawing, the ring 22 and the loop 25 provide such stops.

If desired, the lower end of the body, or any portion of the body, may be reinforced by collars (not shown) similar to the collar H, or by any other suitable means.

In the operation of the toy, the body ID is grasped at its lower end, and the loop (not shown) is engaged in the hook I2. The projecting means is extended and the toy released, whereby the latter is projected into the air.

In the initial position, and during a majority of the toys upward flight, the pressure exerted by the air through which the toy is passing will hold the valve l4 closed, and the toy will be in the position shown in Figure 1. As the toy nears the zenith of its flight, its speed will decrease, and the decreasing air pressure will allow the spring 19 to open the valve l4 and permit air currents to enter into the bore of the body Hi. These air currents will engage the parachute 2B and carry it from the bore of the body, causing the shroud lines 2| to pass through the ring 22, and drawing the cord 23 into the bore through the opening 24. The parachute, upon emerging from the body ID, will unfurl and, checking further progress of the toy, lower the toy slowly to the ground, as is shown in Figure 3.

Upon reaching the ground, the toy may be prepared for another flight by pulling upon the loop 25 of the cord 23. This operation pulls the ring 22 into the bore of the body, causing the shroud lines 2| and the parachute to be pulled into the body. This operation is very simple and may be accomplished satisfactorily by a small child. There are no loose ends of the parachute to be tucked in, nor no particular way to fold the latter. The parachute need not be touched at all.

As will be noted in Figure 3, the length of the cord 23 is such that the shroud lines 2| diverge upwardly from the axial center of the body Ill,

so that the body hangs vertically from the parachute. This is a desirable feature.

The toy, as described, is very simple to operate, the parachute being returned to the same position within the body after each flight, so that the operator is assured of the parachutes opening properly.

The toy may be projected by a suitable means, such as elastic, fluid pressure, or explosive means, and the height of its flight is determined by the relative force exerted by the projecting means.

Manifestly, the integral construction of the body l0 provides a toy of great strength and rigidity and resistance to abuse.

Various changes, alterations, and modifications may be made in the size, shape, and arrangement of the herein disclosed elements, within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A parachute toy including, a hollow body, a parachute secured to the body by lines, means for pulling the lines to draw the parachute into the body, and means for withdrawing the parachute from the interior of said body.

2. A parachute toy including, a hollow body, a parachute secured to the body by lines, a cord connected to the lines for pulling the lines to draw th parachute into the body, and means for withdrawing the parachute from the interior of said body.

3. A parachute toy including, a hollow body, a parachute secured to the body by lines, a cord connected to the lines and extending through a wall of the body for pulling the lines to draw the parachute into the body, and means for withdrawing the parachute from the interior of said body.

4. A parachute toy including, a hollow body, a parachute secured to the body by lines, a member encircling said lines, a cord connected to said member for pulling the latter and forcing the lines to draw the parachute into the body, and means for withdrawing the parachute from the interior of said body.

5. A parachute toy including, a tubular body open at each end, a parachute disposed in the body and adapted to be withdrawn therefrom, a closure mounted in one end of the body and responsive to forward motion of the body for closing one end thereof while the other end remains open, the enclosure being responsive to decreased forward motion to open said end of the body and allow the parachute to be withdrawn from the opposite end of the body.

6. A parachute toy including, a tubular body open at each end, a parachute disposed in the body and adapted to be withdrawn therefrom, and means pivoted within one end of the body responsive to forward motion of the body for closing one end thereof, said means being responsive to decreased forward motion to open said end of the body and allow the parachute to be withdrawn from the opposite end of the body.

'7. A parachute toy including, a tubular body open at each end, a parachute disposed in the body and adapted to be withdrawn therefrom, means responsive to forward motion of the body for closing one end thereof, said means being responsive to decreased forward motion to open said end of the body and allow the parachute to be withdrawn from the opposite end of the body, and means connected to the parachute for applying force to the parachute to draw the same into the body.

8. A parachute toy including, a tubular body open at each end, a parachute secured to the body by lines and adapted to be withdrawn there from, means responsive to forward motion of the body for closing one end thereof, said means being responsive to decreased forward motion to open said end of the body and allow the parachute to be withdrawn from the opposite end of the body, a member encircling said lines, and a cord connected to said member for pulling the latter and forcing the lines to draw the parachute into the body.

9. A parachute toy including, a tubular body open at each end, a parachute secured to the body by lines and adapted to be withdrawn therefrom, means responsive to air pressure due to forward motion of the body for closing one end thereof, said means being responsive to decreased air pressure due to decreased forward motion to open said end of the body and allow the parachute to be withdrawn from the opposite end of the body, a member encircling said lines, and a cord connected to said member for pulling the latter and forcing the lines to draw the parachute into the body.

10. A parachute toy including, a tubular body open at each end, a parachute secured to the body by lines and adapted to be withdrawn therefrom, a member encircling said lines, a cord connected to said member and extending through a wall of the body for pulling the lines and forcing the latter to pull the parachute into the body, and means responsive to fluid pressure due to forward motion of the body for closing one end thereof against air currents, said means bein responsive to decreased fluid pressure due to decreased forward motion to open said end of the body and allow air currents to enter therein to force the parachute from the opposite end of the body, whereupon said parachute opens and lowers the toy to ground, said toy being adapted to be projected into the air.

11. A parachute toy including, a hollow body, a parachute secured to the body by lines, a ring encircling said lines, a cord connected to said ring for pulling the latter and forcing the lines to draw the parachute into the body, said cord having its, other end extending through one wall of the body, whereby the latter end of the cord may be pulled to urge the ring longitudinally of the body and draw the parachute into the body, 5 and means for withdrawing the parachute from the interior of said body.

12. A parachute toy including, a tubular body open at each end, a parachute disposed in the body adapted to be withdrawn therefrom, and a butterfly valve disposed in one end of the body, said valve being pivoted ofi center to the body so as to close in response to the air pressure exerted due to forward motion of the body whereby that end of the body is closed, and means for opening the butterfly valve as the forward motion of the body decreases, whereby air currents may enter the body and force the parachute from the opposite end thereof.

13. A parachute toy including, a tubular body open at each end and adapted to be projected into the air, a parachute secured to the body by lines and adapted to be withdrawn therefrom, a member encircling said lines, a cord connected to said member and extending through a wall of the body for pulling the lines and forcing the latter to pull the parachute into the body, a butterfly valve responsive to air pressure due to forward motion of the body for closing one end thereof against air currents, and spring means responsive to decreased air pressure due to decreased forward motion to open the valve and allow air currents to enter said end of the body to force the parachute from the opposite end of the body, whereupon said parachute opens and lowers the toy to ground.

14. A parachute toy including, a tubular body open at each end, a parachute disposed in the body and adapted to be withdrawn therefrom, and a closure mounted within one end of said 0 body responsive to air pressure due to forward motion of the body for closing one end thereof, the closure being responsive to decreased air pressure due to decreased forward motion to open said end of said body and allow the para- 5 chute to be withdrawn from the opposite end of the body.

M KENNETH CULVER. THURMAN M. MCGREGOR. 

